new to 1911's

Just purchased a Dan Wesson CBOB. I would like to get a couple of high quality magazines for it. Any suggestions? Also can I cock the trigger with my thumb and dry fire without causing harm. Of course no mag inserted and empty chamber checked.

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earlthegoat2

September 9, 2008, 10:49 PM

novak or wilson magazines are very good, 8 round capacity of course.

Dry firing has never coused a problem on any 1911 that I am aware of.

possum

September 9, 2008, 11:34 PM

chip mc cormick 8rd power mags are awesome and they can be had at a great price, they are a standard in the 1911 magazine dept.

as fra as dry firing that is fine, and i do it on all my guns, however i have read and heard that it is not good to manual cock the hammer with your thumb that you should cycle the slide to cock the hammer, and also not to let the hammer down manual, let it down by pulling the trigger, dry firing basically.

AndyC

September 9, 2008, 11:38 PM

I cock the hammer with my weak-hand thumb so that my strong hand keeps a firm grip on the pistol.

CWL

September 10, 2008, 12:07 AM

Chip McCormick power mags.

Not only are they cheaper but the feed lip design is better than Wilsons and the springs are +5%.

Ske1etor

September 10, 2008, 09:06 AM

I prefer wilson combat mags...

Dry fire to your hearts content... thumb the hammer back, rack the slide... doesn't matter. You can't hurt the gun more than what the normal firing operation does.

kcshooter

September 10, 2008, 10:58 AM

Wilson mag springs notoriously are too weak. They can be replaced with Wolff springs, but you shouldn't have to at the price of them. The CMC Power mags have a strong following.

The magazines I started using as a standard a little over a year ago are the Checkmates. There is nothing on the market that can compare. Properly designed feedlips, follower with the dimple in the right place, skirted metal follower, and good springs. Not many people seem to have tried these yet, but those that have swear by them for a reason.

AndyC

September 10, 2008, 02:02 PM

CMC Power Mags here too

edhaus

September 10, 2008, 02:32 PM

The original Dan Wesson mags are 7 shots and it ends flush with bottom of grip. When I look at pics it seems some of the 8's are flush and some have the extension on them. Can an a 8 shot be flush and fit in the Bobtail. I'll probably try one of each, but would buy the 8 shot if it is flush to bottom of grip.

CWL

September 10, 2008, 04:40 PM

When I look at pics it seems some of the 8's are flush and some have the extension on them. Can an a 8 shot be flush and fit in the Bobtail. I'll probably try one of each, but would buy the 8 shot if it is flush to bottom of grip.

edhaus, what you are seeing is most likely a base pad or "bumper" on the bottom of a flush magazine. This bumper is added to many magazines in order to protect the mag from damage when ejected onto the ground. Mags can take a lot of abuse from regular training.

Some magazines (like Wilsons) have the bumper built-in, while others like Colt or Chip McCormick have flat metal bases which you can screw a plastic bumper into if you desire. (Chip McCormicks all come with bumpers and screws and leave it to the buyer if you want to install.)

None of these affect magazine length or capacity. The only difference(s) between a 7-rd and 8-rd M1911 magazine is the length of the spring and possibly the size of the follower.

If you are going to train hard, I'd suggest that you use the bumpers.

edhaus

September 10, 2008, 04:47 PM

Thanks CWL, perfect explanation.

CWL

September 10, 2008, 04:50 PM

edhaus,

Don't think anyone mentioned this yet, but you should use dummy rounds/snap caps if you are going to be dry-firing your M1911 (and YES, dry-fire practice should be a major part of your practice/training).

Snap caps help protect the firing pin and the stop plate from excessive wear. They are also useful for practicing handgun manipulations like malfunction clearance drills.

I prefer A-Zoom brand because they are machined from solid aluminum and feel more like real bullets than plastic ones.

(btw, I recommend that you take some professional training classes so you will learn the proper methods of malf. clearance)

edhaus

September 10, 2008, 05:38 PM

I've been getting some mixed information on dry firing with snap caps or not. I have them for my S&W M65 revolver and SW says they are not necessary so I have stopped using them. Racking the slide on the 1911, I don't let it go fully without something in the chamber to absorb the shock. So when I have been dry firing I let the slide back easy on the empty chamber. That may or may not be a good idea. Having shot at the range only once with this, I want to take good care of it. Amazing accuracy and a pleasure to shoot. Snaps caps would let me let go of the slide without worry. I may get a few lessons too to get a good start with it.

brhodes

September 10, 2008, 05:58 PM

I've been racking slides back on empty/removed mags on my 1911s for years and years, edhaus. There's no real shock to absorb (certainly less shock than when it's being fired, as the other poster alluded to). I've dry fired thousands of times, no harm. Just keep it clean and lubed and it'll last a long, long time. No need to handle it with kids gloves. :)

As far as mags, I've always used the gov't-issue 7 rounders. I bought a whole bunch of them many years ago and just never got the gumption to buy the wilsons or whatever.

edhaus

September 10, 2008, 06:08 PM

That's good news. How often do you dissemble firing pin and extractor. The general field strip is easy, but I am not confident getting deeper.

CmC, Wilson, Novak, and Metalform are all quality mags worth trying if a buddy has some to loan.

gwnorth

September 10, 2008, 07:11 PM

My Taurus PT1911 seems to work well with ACT (aka Novak, ACT makes mags under various trademarks) mags (check out www.topgunsupply.com). And they are not expensive.

kcshooter

September 10, 2008, 09:58 PM

Snap caps help protect the firing pin and the stop plate from excessive wearTotally unneccessary. You can dry fire ten thousand times without seeing wear. They are good for malfunction training though.

Racking the slide on the 1911, I don't let it go fully without something in the chamber to absorb the shockRegardless of what you hear, this is a good idea. Letting the slide slam home on an empty chamber can cause unneeded wear to your trigger group, especially undesireable after you pay for a nice trigger job.

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